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While his fancy coined these ideas； He paced his Cell with a
disordered air。 His eyes were fixed upon vacancy： His head
reclined upon his shoulder； A tear rolled down his cheek； while
He reflected that the vision of happiness for him could never be
realized。
'She is lost to me！' He continued； 'By marriage She cannot be
mine： And to seduce such innocence； to use the confidence
reposed in me to work her ruin。 。 。 。 Oh！ it would be a crime；
blacker than yet the world ever witnessed！ Fear not； lovely
Girl！ Your virtue runs no risque from me。 Not for Indies would
I make that gentle bosom know the tortures of remorse。'
Again He paced his chamber hastily。 Then stopping； his eye fell
upon the picture of his once…admired Madona。 He tore it with
indignation from the wall： He threw it on the ground； and
spurned it from him with his foot。
'The Prostitute！'
Unfortunate Matilda！ Her Paramour forgot that for his sake alone
She had forfeited her claim to virtue； and his only reason for
despising her was that She had loved him much too well。
He threw himself into a Chair which stood near the Table。 He
saw the card with Elvira's address。 He took it up； and it
brought to his recollection his promise respecting a Confessor。
He passed a few minutes in doubt： But Antonia's Empire over him
was already too much decided to permit his making a long
resistance to the idea which struck him。 He resolved to be the
Confessor himself。 He could leave the Abbey unobserved without
difficulty： By wrapping up his head in his Cowl He hoped to pass
through the Streets without being recognised： By taking these
precautions； and by recommending secrecy to Elvira's family； He
doubted not to keep Madrid in ignorance that He had broken his
vow never to see the outside of the Abbey walls。 Matilda was the
only person whose vigilance He dreaded： But by informing her at
the Refectory that during the whole of that day； Business would
confine him to his Cell； He thought himself secure from her
wakeful jealousy。 Accordingly； at the hours when the Spaniards
are generally taking their Siesta； He ventured to quit the Abbey
by a private door； the Key of which was in his possession。 The
Cowl of his habit was thrown over his face： From the heat of the
weather the Streets were almost totally deserted： The Monk met
with few people； found the Strada di San Iago； and arrived
without accident at Donna Elvira's door。 He rang； was admitted；
and immediately ushered into an upper apartment。
It was here that He ran the greatest risque of a discovery。 Had
Leonella been at home； She would have recognized him directly：
Her communicative disposition would never have permitted her to
rest till all Madrid was informed that Ambrosio had ventured out
of the Abbey； and visited her Sister。 Fortune here stood the
Monk's Friend。 On Leonella's return home； She found a letter
instructing her that a Cousin was just dead； who had left what
little He possessed between Herself and Elvira。 To secure this
bequest She was obliged to set out for Cordova without losing a
moment。 Amidst all her foibles her heart was truly warm and
affectionate； and She was unwilling to quit her Sister in so
dangerous a state。 But Elvira insisted upon her taking the
journey； conscious that in her Daughter's forlorn situation no
increase of fortune； however trifling； ought to be neglected。
Accordingly； Leonella left Madrid； sincerely grieved at her
Sister's illness； and giving some few sighs to the memory of the
amiable but inconstant Don Christoval。 She was fully persuaded
that at first She had made a terrible breach in his heart： But
hearing nothing more of him； She supposed that He had quitted the
pursuit； disgusted by the lowness of her origin； and knowing upon
other terms than marriage He had nothing to hope from such a
Dragon of Virtue as She professed herself； Or else； that being
naturally capricious and changeable； the remembrance of her
charms had been effaced from the Conde's heart by those of some
newer Beauty。 Whatever was the cause of her losing him； She
lamented it sorely。 She strove in vain； as She assured every
body who was kind enough to listen to her； to tear his image from
her too susceptible heart。 She affected the airs of a lovesick
Virgin； and carried them all to the most ridiculous excess。 She
heaved lamentable sighs； walked with her arms folded； uttered
long soliloquies； and her discourse generally turned upon some
forsaken Maid who expired of a broken heart！ Her fiery locks
were always ornamented with a garland of willow； Every evening
She was seen straying upon the Banks of a rivulet by Moonlight；
and She declared herself a violent Admirer of murmuring Streams
and Nightingales；
'Of lonely haunts； and twilight Groves；
'Places which pale Passion loves！'
Such was the state of Leonella's mind； when obliged to quit
Madrid。 Elvira was out of patience at all these follies； and
endeavoured at persuading her to act like a reasonable Woman。
Her advice was thrown away： Leonella assured her at parting that
nothing could make her forget the perfidious Don Christoval。 In
this point She was fortunately mistaken。 An honest Youth of
Cordova； Journeyman to an Apothecary； found that her fortune
would be sufficient to set him up in a genteel Shop of his own：
In consequence of this reflection He avowed himself her Admirer。
Leonella was not inflexible。 The ardour of his sighs melted her
heart； and She soon consented to make him the happiest of
Mankind。 She wrote to inform her Sister of her marriage； But；
for reasons which will be explained hereafter； Elvira never
answered her letter。
Ambrosio was conducted into the Antichamber to that where
Elvira was reposing。 The Female Domestic who had admitted him
left him alone while She announced his arrival to her Mistress。
Antonia； who had been by her Mother's Bedside； immediately came
to him。
'Pardon me； Father；' said She； advancing towards him； when
recognizing his features； She stopped suddenly； and uttered a cry
of joy。 'Is it possible！' She continued；
'Do not my eyes deceive me？ Has the worthy Ambrosio broken
through his resolution； that He may soften the agonies of the
best of Women？ What pleasure will this visit give my Mother！
Let me not delay for a moment the comfort which your piety and
wisdom will afford her。'
Thus saying； She opened the chamber door； presented to her Mother
her distinguished Visitor； and having placed an armed…chair by
the side of the Bed； withdrew into another department。
Elvira was highly gratified by this visit： Her expectations had
been raised high by general report； but She found them far
exceeded。 Ambrosio； endowed by nature with powers of pleasing；
exerted them to the utmost while conversing with Antonia's
Mother。 With persuasive eloquence He calmed every fear； and
dissipated every scruple： He bad her reflect on the infinite
mercy of her Judge； despoiled Death of his darts and terrors； and
taught her to view without shrinking the abyss of eternity； on
whose brink She then stood。 Elvira was absorbed in attention and
delight： While She listene